There may be other victims of jailed child rapist, police reveal

A Cullyhanna man was handed a 20-year jail sentence on Friday, having been found guilty of the repeated rape and assault of three females, two of whom were children, and one aged just 12.

At Newry Crown Court on Friday, Derek Martin (48) a married father-of-…. from Cloghoge Road was convicted of a string of offences including two counts of rape, seven counts of indecent assault, three counts of gross indecency and one charge of threats to damage property.

The offences were perpetrated in the south Armagh area over a period of 15 years, between 1991 and 2006.

Constable Karen Cole of E District Child Abuse Unit revealed police believe there may be more victims and said she hoped the sentence would encourage them to come forward.

Praising the bravery of Martin’s victims, she said: “We are pleased to see this sentence handed down and hope that it brings some form of closure for the three victims. The victims have been on a long journey for justice and the process has been harrowing at times. I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and strength they have shown, not only during court proceedings, but from the start to the end of the criminal justice process.

“This perpetrator preyed on young and vulnerable females and I hope that this sentence sends a clear message that crimes like this will not be tolerated in our society. We believe there may be other victims and we hope that this conviction will encourage people to come forward and make contact with us.”